Help the Homeless! Sign up now for our annual “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” event at 9 a.m. Saturday Feb. 25 in Wingfield Park.

Last year, more than 250 men, women and children marched the downtown streets to raise awareness about our homeless.

We’ll walk from the park to the Mission, and then back to the park for refreshments and live music from musicians in the Grace Community Church praise band!

Click here to see the attached signup sheet for more info.

See you there!

Lip balm, toothbrushes, hand warmers, P-38 can openers – not your typical sweet treats, but “Street Treats” for the approximately 500 appreciative participants in the Mission’s second annual Halloween event.

“There are more hurting people this year and this brings some normalcy to their lives,” said Executive Director Rick Redding.

Along with partners, AT&T Pioneers, National Charity League, and Young Life Southside, the Mission presented a lively contest of decorated vehicles with themes as diverse as Disco, Superheroes and Villains and the Wizard of Oz.

“I voted for all of them,” said Charles. “You’ve given me enough to eat for awhile and this makes my Halloween special.”

The Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission is asking for donations of sunscreen, lip balm and other hygiene items to give away to the homeless and needy during its annual “Christmas in July” event on July 25.

More than 500 men, women and children are expected at the 5 p.m. dinner at the Mission, 355 Record St. The event – featuring a full-costumed Santa Claus greeting guests – is a festive reminder that the homeless and poor need year-round services.

The Mission is preparing summer hygiene kits to distribute and is seeking the following: sunscreen, lip balm, water bottles, travel-sized soap and toothpaste, tissue paper and deodorant. Items not used during the event will be given away to the homeless throughout the year.

Items can be dropped off at the Mission or its offices, 2115 Timber Way, Reno.

For details, call 323-0386 ext. 16.

Tammy Treadwell is the recipient of the 2010 Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women for her work with women in recovery and the homeless as the women’s services coordinator for the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission.

Sponsored by Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, the award is presented by Soroptimist International of Washoe County to honor women who use their personal or professional influence to improve the lives of other women. Treadwell advances to the national level, where an on-line poll will decide the recipient of a $5,000 charitable donation by the Soroptimist International of the America’s organization.

Treadwell was nominated by Vanessa Sweglar, a Mission employee who works closely with Treadwell in helping female clients. “(Tammy) knows each woman’s individual story, her strengths, her weaknesses, her struggles, and her fears,” Sweglar wrote in her nomination.

“She makes every woman – no matter what abuse they’ve been through or caused – feel loved and special…she loves the 46 women in that house exactly the same. She shares their joys. She feels their pain. She helps them find worth when they see none at all.”

Treadwell will be honored in March during private ceremonies.

Congratulations Tammy!

The community is invited to support the second “Walk a Mile (or 2) in My Shoes” at 9 a.m. Feb. 26 at Wingfield Park, an event sponsored by the Reno-Sparks Gospel Mission to promote awareness about the plight of the homeless in Northern Nevada.

An estimated 250 walkers of all ages will traverse the side streets of downtown Reno and end one-mile later at the Gospel Mission, 355 Record St. For those who wish to continue walking, a group will head back to the park for a family-friendly atmosphere of live music and refreshments. Transportation also will be provided.

Entry fees are $30 per person and $25 per person for groups of 4 or more. All fees will be used to support the Mission’s continuing outreach to the homeless and needy of Northern Nevada.

“There’s a saying that to gain empathy you should walk a mile in someone’s shoes,” said Rick Redding, executive director. “Here’s a great chance to walk the streets like the homeless.

“Rain or shine, we’re going to walk in the cold and along the sidewalks and streets that our homeless walk every day. Maybe even for a second we can experience what they go through.”

Those who register by Feb. 18 are eligible to win door prizes at the event.

For more details or to register, call 323-0386, ext. 16 or click here for a registration form!

For just $25, you can help “change a life.”

The Mission is now selling its popular “Changing Lives” shirts that highlight the Mission’s work with the poor and homeless.

The 100% cotton, long-sleeve shirts are available in Adult Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large and XX Large in both black and white versions. Price includes priority mail shipping costs. All proceeds will directly help the homeless and needy in Northern Nevada.

The shirts were designed by Camber Redding, 13, an aspiring designer and daughter of Executive Director Rick Redding. “She made the design for a contest, but anyone who’s seen it always asks when we’re going to sell them,” Redding said. “They really like it.”

Shirts can be purchased several ways:

• By Paypal, send $25 to rick@rsgm.org (include mailing address and shirt size/shirt color)
• By mail, send $25 to RSGM, 2115 Timber Way, Reno, NV 89512 (include mailing address and shirt size/shirt color)
• Or call us at 775-323-0386 ext. 10 to pay by credit/debit card

Get yours today!

The Gospel Mission had 90 men and women march in Reno’s Veterans’ Day parade to honor veterans who comprise one-third of all homeless men and women in America. 

The Mission group was colorful as each man and woman dressed in red, white or blue. Many enthusiastically carried American flags and waved to the thousands of spectators lining downtown Virginia Street. Thirteen veterans from the Mission rode in the back of two pickup trucks, wearing beanie caps embroidered with their branch of service.

Many were moved by the touching words from spectators, some of whom thanked the veterans for their service.

Rick Redding, Mission exuecitve director, said the Mission’s entry was meant to shed light on the plight of U.S. veterans across the country.

“It’s a sad commentary on our society when one-third of homeless and those seeking recovery treatment are veterans,” Redding said. “It absolutely breaks our hearts when we see a vet sleeping on the sidewalk. They gave to our country and we need to give back to these brave men and women.”

Luis Santoni, the Mission’s director of development, has been recognized as one of Northern Nevada’s top young leaders and rising business stars.

Santoni was one of only 20 selected out of this year’s 165 nominees for the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals and Reno Gazette-Journal’s “Twenty Under 40” program which annually bestows the honor to top professionals working to make a difference in their communities.

Judges base the award on several factors, including exceptional business leadership, professional achievements and community involvement. Santoni and other winners will be featured at a Nov. 4 awards banquet at the Atlantis Casino and Resort.

Rick Redding, the Mission’s executive director, nominated Santoni for his passionate work in developing more than 100 partnerships with area businesses to help the Mission’s work with the homeless, poor and addicted.

These partnerships – from major casinos and retail stores to grocery stores and furniture outlets – have greatly reduced expenses while increasing revenue through the sales in the Mission’s six Thrift Depot thrift stores. Santoni, who holds an MBA, also coordinates an extensive network of community agencies to help clients in the Mission’s recovery program by providing help with educational needs, vocational training, credit repair, resume writing and computer skills.

“Luis’ greatest achievement isn’t an award or certificate or office held. Rather, he has created an atmosphere of corporate caring for the homeless and addicted,” Redding wrote in his nomination. “Many businesses are philanthropic, but Luis has insisted that the Mission doesn’t need more ‘charity;’ it needs partners to help combat homelessness, poverty, hunger and substance abuse in our community.”

Redding cited Santoni’s work in securing enough donated food so the Mission could supply 1,000 meals a day to the homeless at a time when government agencies were reducing services; developing partnerships with other agencies that have helped 25 Misison clients receive their GEDs and allowed dozens more to secure employment; implementing creative methods that allow the Mission to be 100% “green” in its recycling efforts; and bringing financial stability so the Mission can continue its extensive work with the homeless, working poor and addicted in our community.

“He’s made a tremendous impact in our community,” Redding said. “He’s got a great heart and attitude that is obvious for all to see. Luis really cares and it shows.”

Santoni shies from the recognition, stating that he’s simply doing what God wants him to do. “It’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus,” he said. “As long as we put Him first in everything we do, we’ll be all right.”

Santoni joins a group that includes past winners such as Ross Miller, Nevada Secretary of State; Kitty Jung, Washoe County Commissioner; and Jessica Sferrazza, Reno City Council member.

To see this year’s winners, please click here.

The Mission is asking for local residents to donate their unsold garage sale items to help with services for the poor and homeless.

Just call us before or after your garage sale, tell us when you want us to come and we’ll send a truck to pick up your items - and anything else you want to clear out of your garage!

You’ll get a clutter-free garage, a tax receipt for your donation and peace of mind knowing that you helped the unfortunate in our area!

Call us at 775-323-7999 (weekdays) or 379-9161 (weekends), or email at dispatch@rsgm.org to schedule your pickup!

(Items collected by the Mission will be sold and all proceeds provide direct assistance for the homeless and needy in our area.)